In a stunning turn of events, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison has emerged as a formidable challenger to Elon Musk’s reign as the world’s richest person.
A staggering $70 billion single-day surge in Ellison’s net worth, driven by Oracle’s blockbuster quarterly earnings, has propelled him to $364 billion, narrowing the gap with Musk’s $384 billion fortune, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
This unprecedented wealth jump, potentially the largest one-day gain ever recorded, underscores the seismic shifts in the tech industry fueled by the artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing boom.
Oracle’s AI-Powered Triumph Fuels Ellison’s Rise
Oracle’s remarkable financial performance, announced after market close on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, sent its stock soaring by over 31% in extended trading, marking the company’s most significant single-day gain since 1999.
The rally was driven by Oracle’s aggressive pivot to cloud infrastructure and AI services, with the company projecting its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) revenue to reach $144 billion by fiscal year 2030, a 77% growth from earlier estimates of 70%.
Oracle reported $2.93 billion in quarterly profits and an extraordinary $455 billion in remaining performance obligations (RPOs), a 359% increase from the prior quarter, signaling robust future revenue streams.
CEO Safra Catz highlighted Oracle’s strategic contracts, including four multi-billion-dollar deals signed in the first quarter, and partnerships with AI innovators like OpenAI and Meta.
The company’s massive $35 billion investment in data center expansion for 2026 further cements its position as a cornerstone of the AI infrastructure landscape. Unlike other media reports, few outlets have emphasized Oracle’s critical role in powering the backend for major AI players, positioning it as an unsung hero in the AI revolution.
While consumer-facing platforms like Meta or TikTok dominate headlines, Oracle’s infrastructure is quietly driving the compute power behind the scenes, a factor that has significantly amplified Ellison’s wealth.
Ellison’s Strategic Vision and Contrarian Bet on Cloud
What sets this story apart is Ellison’s remarkable turnaround from skepticism to dominance in cloud computing. In 2008, Ellison famously dismissed cloud computing as “complete gibberish,” yet under his leadership as chairman and chief technology officer, Oracle has transformed into a cloud and AI powerhouse.
Owning approximately 40% of Oracle, Ellison’s wealth is intricately tied to the company’s stock performance, which has surged 45% year-to-date in 2025 before this latest rally.
His strategic foresight in aligning Oracle with AI-driven demand, including partnerships like the Stargate initiative with OpenAI and potential deals to host TikTok’s U.S. data, has not only revitalized Oracle but also redefined his personal fortune.
Few reports highlight Ellison’s contrarian journey or the scale of his influence over Oracle’s direction. Unlike Musk, whose wealth is diversified across Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, Ellison’s fortune is predominantly tied to a single entity—Oracle—making his wealth surge a testament to his enduring control and vision.
This concentrated ownership, rare among tech founders, gives Ellison unparalleled influence over Oracle’s strategic pivots, a detail often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
The Billionaire Race: Musk’s Precarious Lead
Elon Musk, whose net worth stands at $384 billion, has held the title of the world’s richest person for just over 300 days since reclaiming it in 2024.
However, Tesla’s 14% stock decline in 2025, coupled with a $34 billion single-day loss in June following a public dispute with former President Donald Trump, has weakened his position.
Musk’s wealth remains bolstered by his stakes in Tesla (19.7%), SpaceX, and xAI, but Oracle’s relentless momentum has put Ellison within striking distance.
Tesla’s proposed $1 trillion compensation package for Musk, contingent on ambitious targets like a $8.5 trillion market cap and 20 million annual vehicle deliveries, adds further complexity to the race, but its speculative nature contrasts with Oracle’s tangible financial gains.
Mainstream outlets have largely focused on the headline-grabbing $70 billion figure, but few delve into the broader context of Musk’s vulnerabilities.
For instance, Tesla’s stock volatility and Musk’s reliance on unrealized gains from unvested stock options expose him to market fluctuations, unlike Ellison’s more stable Oracle-driven wealth.
Additionally, Musk’s public controversies, such as his social media spats, have occasionally dented his fortune, a dynamic rarely mentioned in comparison to Ellison’s lower-profile approach.
Beyond the Numbers: Ellison’s Broader Influence
While much of the coverage centers on Ellison’s wealth, few outlets explore his broader impact. At 81, Ellison continues to steer Oracle with a hands-on approach, leveraging his 40% stake to drive decisions that have reshaped the company’s trajectory.
His investments extend beyond Oracle, including a $1 billion stake in Tesla (1.4% as of 2022) and ownership of 98% of Hawaii’s Lanai island, purchased for $300 million in 2012.
Ellison’s flamboyant lifestyle—yachts, private jets, and the revival of the Indian Wells tennis tournament—contrasts with his relatively private public persona, a nuance often overshadowed by Musk’s high-profile antics.
Moreover, Ellison’s recent pledge to redirect his wealth toward the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) at Oxford, focusing on healthcare, hunger, and climate change, signals a shift in his legacy.
Unlike traditional philanthropy, Ellison’s approach blends for-profit ventures with nonprofit goals, a strategy that has drawn less attention than his wealth surge but reflects a growing trend among tech billionaires like Musk and Zuckerberg. This pivot, announced in July 2025, underscores Ellison’s intent to tackle global challenges while maintaining his business acumen, a dimension not widely covered.
What’s Next for the Billionaire Rivalry?
The race for the world’s richest title is far from settled. Oracle’s projected 12%–14% total revenue growth and 32%–36% cloud revenue growth for the second quarter suggest Ellison’s wealth could continue to climb. Meanwhile, Musk’s fortunes hinge on Tesla’s ability to navigate a competitive EV market and achieve its lofty milestones.
The volatility of billionaire rankings, as evidenced by Bernard Arnault’s drop from first to seventh place in 2024, highlights the precarious nature of such wealth. Ellison’s rise, however, is not just a story of numbers but a testament to strategic reinvention and the growing dominance of AI infrastructure in reshaping global markets.
As the tech landscape evolves, Ellison’s quieter, calculated approach contrasts with Musk’s headline-grabbing style, setting the stage for a riveting billionaire showdown.
While Musk remains the frontrunner, Ellison’s relentless ascent, powered by Oracle’s AI-driven success, suggests the crown could change hands sooner than expected.
